PRIORY Park in Southend will play host to a huge charity concert this Saturday.

Music lovers will once again be treated to classic tunes from the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra for this year’s Concert in the Park.

Each year the event raises money for local charities. This time round the songs will follow a nautical theme.

Organisers from the Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill have also lined up Southend Boys’ and Girls’ choirs and the Sixties tribute band Wheelz, made up of Rotarians.

President Roger Allen said: “We have seen the choir perform before and they were marvellous. We decided to put on Wheelz to prove Rotarians are not a bunch of grumpy old men.

“The theme for the orchestra this year was picked by me, as I am the president.

“We normally get about 5,000 people to come along, people are surprised at the size of it. After the airshow, we are the second biggest event in Southend.”

The choir will be starting the evening, followed by Wheelz and then the orchestra is due on at 8pm.

They will start with Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance. The Titanic theme tune, My Heart Will Go On, will also feature, along with the 1812 overture, the theme for Hawaii Five-0 and music from Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man’s Chest.

Unlike previous years, it will be a one-day event only on the Saturday.

Roger added: “In view of the recession, we decided to consolidate it into one afternoon for this year.”

Money raised will go primarily to Bosom Pals, a support group for people affected by breast cancer.

Along with this, the rotary club is also raising money for the International Rotary’s Purple Pinkie campaign.

The campaign is trying to eradicate the childhood polio.

A child in affected countries can be vaccinated for just 50p, and when they are vaccinated they have a purple stamp put on their finger.

Concertgoers are being urged to donate £1 and have their finger painted purple as a symbol they have saved children from contracting polio.

There will also be a raffle with prizes including a gold disc once owned by Eric Clapton and a year’s free membership to a golf club.

The concert will end with a huge firework display. To book tickets call 01702 428888 or visit the website www.concertinthepark.org.uk